Since 1978, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation has offered a variety of outdoor education and heritage programs, that allow people of all ages the opportunity to get closer to nature. Learn more about The National Archery in Schools Program (NASP), Youth Conservation Camp, Women’s Outdoor Weekend (WOW), and more.
Don’t forget to check out the Hannin Creek Education & Applied Research Centre, where many educational programs take place such as the Youth Conservation Camps, and the Women’s Outdoor Weekends.
PROGRAMS OFFERED:
YOUTH CONSERVATION CAMPS: Developed to offer young people the opportunity to learn and experience in the great outdoors, the SWF Conservation Camp has been an ongoing success for over 30 years. At camp, boys and girls aged 12-14 are given hands-on learning in a wide range of outdoor activities including: Archery, canoeing, air rifle shooting, trapping, wildlife identification, plant identification, survival skills, camp cooking, fisheries studies, map & compass, GPS use and so much more.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR WEEKEND: This is an opportunity for women of all skill levels to try their hand at a variety of wilderness activities and increase their outdoor confidence through activities like archery, knife skills, fishing and filleting, shelter building, plant and animal identification, fire building, canoeing and so much more! This weekend is not meant to be an intense backwoods experience, but an empowering weekend where women can take part in women-ran outdoor activities. Held in the Spring & Fall at the Hannin Creek Education & Applied Research Centre in Candle Lake, SK. For more information, contact Courtney at 306-692-8812.
BACKYARD BIODIVERSITY CHALLENGE: Beautiful native wild flowers are not only tough and perfectly adapted to life on the prairies, they are also a haven for bees and other pollinators that play an important role in our prairie ecosystem. Add a pop of colour to your yard and support native pollinators all at the same time with our Backyard Biodiversity Challenge! All wildflower seed packs are supplied from Blazing Star Wildflower Seed Company in Aberdeen, SK. Open during the Spring months.
FISH ARTWORK CONTEST: Each year, the SWF hosts a Fish Artwork Contest for Grades 4-6. Students must submit original and creative entries showing native Saskatchewan fish in their natural habitats. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners all receive an SWF fishing prize pack. This contest takes place each year throughout the month of April. To learn more, visit https://swf.sk.ca/fish-artwork-contest/?fbclid=IwAR1GA49YA8En8LrcS6rmK0SoRxrkZs1z76txNE_jmKY6N36uET_MzNdO-YU
NOTICE NATURE BINGO CARD: Notice Nature is a Saskatchewan community youth program coordinated by the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council. This program is created for youth within areas of Saskatchewan to encourage outdoor play through fun, nature-loving learning activities while winning some awesome prizes! Notice Nature Passports and Cards can be used for prize submission at any participating library location (see participating locations on website). Participants of all ages are welcome!
CLASSROOM IN A BOX: These programs fit well with the Grade 4-6 curriculum, and can also be adapted. These boxes include activities that tap into students’ creative sides, as well as activities to get them thinking about the fish, birds, and mammals that live right here in our province. Some activities include extra materials that can be lent out to supplement the program document. Currently, there are 4 programs that can be found on the SWF website, including bird and fish species.
CLASSROOMS ON ICE: The concept is to provide a facility and curriculum where school and youth groups can enjoy a day in a unique environment learning about various natural sciences. Our 2 – 10’ X 10’ solar powered buildings provide the perfect laboratories for the participants to do a multitude of activities in either a winter or a summer setting. Our curriculums are designed to accommodate Grades 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, and we are expecting to have “graduated” 500 students in our winter program this year, and 1800-2000 in our summer program. This program allows an excellent opportunity to not only educate youth in the great outdoors and natural sciences, but also allows us to explain the roles played by the hunters and anglers in the conservation, enhancement, and protection of our waterways, forests, and fields.
FISHERIES COLORING AND ACTIVITY BOOK: A perfect individual activity that can be sent home, or done in class. The fisheries coloring and activity book is a great way for younger students to not only learn about what different Saskatchewan fish look like, but also where they live, what they eat, and other fun facts about the creatures that fill our lakes and rivers. To download the activity book, click here.
FISH IN SCHOOLS (FINS): The Fish in Schools (FinS) program provides Saskatchewan students with a firsthand look at fish and aquatic habitats in their very own classroom. The program involves raising trout from eggs to fry before releasing them in a provincially stocked waterbody. In January/February, eyed trout eggs are placed into special classroom incubators. Over the following 3 to 4 months, students care for their fish by monitoring and maintaining the conditions required for their trout to thrive. In May/June, the trout are ready to be released by the students. For more information, contact fins@swf.sk.ca.
NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM (NASP): In NASP, international style target & IBO 3-D style archery is used to teach participants the values associated with learning a lifelong skill. With an emphasis on process rather than results, NASP strives to instill a fun and safe shooting environment for each participant. The program promotes inclusive participation as a team or individual; girls, boys, and all ability levels are encouraged to join. NASP uses equipment that is universal to all its participants from grade four to grade twelve and has been built to suit the outcomes and indicators of the Sask Ed curriculum. For information on NASP, contact sask.wildlife@swf.sk.ca.
BIGFOOT SNOWSHOE LOAN: A great way to get your Physical Education or Outdoor Education class outside this winter – Borrow snowshoes from the SWF! There is a great inventory, with 4 different sizes of shoes for all ages. This is a great way to get outside, exercise, and enjoy the scenery the province has to offer.
GPS RENTALS: Try geocaching for an outdoor activity. New geocache locations have been added to the SWF website, so check out to see if there are any nearby you. If not, scavenger hunts can be set up using GPS coordinates. The SWF offers rentals of Garmin handheld devices, which is a simple device to learn how to navigate, while having fun outdoors.
WILDLIFE POSTERS: The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, with the help of generous sponsors, created and produced these series of posters depicting fish and wildlife in Saskatchewan. Each poster serves as an excellent resource, featuring a variety of Saskatchewan wildlife, and also including range maps and descriptions. To order your poster or for more information, call the SWF Central Office at 306-692-8812, or visit www.swf.sk.ca/programs/wildlife-posters/.
Looking for other educational options? Have a topic about conservation you need to cover with your class? Let the SWF know, and we might be able to schedule in a meeting with your class. Call the Central Office at 306-692-8812 or email sask.wildlife@swf.sk.ca.
For additional resources, visit https://swf.sk.ca/resources/for-teachers/
